Workplace hurdles the disabled still have to mount

For those people with physical or mental disabilities, finding work is harder still.

"There can be huge barriers, even getting into training, " says Tariq Ahmed, outreach team manager with Bradnet, an organisation that sets out to give disabled people the opportunity to reach their goals by providing appropriate support and services.

Even when a job has been offered and accepted, difficulties arise with accessibility, transportation and support in the workplace. "Often, people need help, but do not know where to go for support, " adds Mr Ahmed. This can apply to employers too, who are not always aware of employment law relating to the disabled.

Over the past decade there has been a giant leap forward in improving the rights of disabled people in Britain.

The Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 ruled it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a disabled person. It required that they 'take reasonable steps' to make 'reasonable adjustments' to ensure that as members of staff they are not treated less favourably than other employees for a reason related to their disability.

There are shortcomings, however. The act does not cover public transport, for example, preventing many people from travelling to work in the first place. This is being addressed at the end of this year, but while new vehicles must be adapted, older vehicles will not, so problems will still arise.

Transport and accessibility are just two of the many issues surrounding work and the disabled which have resulted in Bradnet setting up a special service to help people with disabilities find jobs.

The new venture has been established in response to a growing number of enquiries voiced by disabled people living across the Bradford district about the many problems and pitfalls of finding suitable training and employment.

"We look at the 'social' model surrounding the disabled and work, not just the 'medical' model, " says Mr Ahmed. "For example if a person wants to take up a certain job, we look at transport and access arrangements, and the workplace, not just the job itself and whether the person could do it."

Adds Mr Ahmed. "It is a user-led organisation. The service came about as a result of many parents and young people telling us the difficulties they had come across."

Previously, Bradnet, which was set up ten years ago, concentrated on helping disabled people claim the correct benefits. The team now helps clients to search for suitable vacancies through local papers and on websites, apply and hopefully find work.

Says Furzana Shah, a disabled outreach worker: "We encourage them to look through newspapers and use the internet. We discuss strategies that can be followed when looking for jobs."

Not all disabled people are, she says, aware of the double-tick symbol used so that employers can show their commitment to good practice by guaranteeing an interview to a disabled applicant if they fulfil the minimum requirements.

Adds Miss Shah: "Someone with physical disabilities may be aware of it, but a person with learning disabilities or autism may not. We will say, 'These are your rights, ' and tell them what they can do and expect.

Adds Mr Ahmed: "Sometimes employers are not aware of how they can be helped by 'access to work' schemes. They might get help to buy equipment or support.

Employers are nervous about taking on a person not knowing how to deal with disability and not knowing where to go for help.

They are keen to support the individual but unsure how to do so.

They worry about failing the employee and gaining a bad reputation." Yet often employers need to make only small adjustments such as providing appropriate seating or increasing leg room.

"Making changes can be expensive and time consuming, but this is not always the case, " says Mussarat Suleman, marketing co-ordinator with Bradnet.

"Sometimes minor adaptations are all that are needed."

Staff from the service are attempting to tackle these misconceptions by visiting employers across the Bradford district and giving presentations.

Meetings with major employers such as large supermarket chains, who have training schemes in place for disabled members of staff have proved fruitful, and more are being set up.

Despite the Disability Discrimination Act, discrimination among employers is still a substantial barrier to disabled people finding work. Employment-related queries to the national Disability Rights Commission's helpline currently make up more than a third of all new calls.

In the four months since Bradnet's service has been running, more than 30 people, some graduates, are attending training courses and there is a growing waiting list, with a surge expected at the end of June when the college year comes to a close.

Outreach worker Stephen John has identified sectors that are popular among those seeking work. "If someone tells us that a certain line of work is what they are interested in then we will do all we can to pursue it."

Anyone who finds a job is given on-going support by the team, who are on-hand to give advice and answer any questions.

Work awareness courses cover details including time cards, hours, and wages.

It is also hoped that the service will help to boost the confidence of those attending job search sessions. Adds Furzana Shah: "Hopefully they will bounce off each other, and realise they are not on their own."